TWENTY EIGHT
"THE CHILDREN HAVE FOUND the Black Swan," Alden told Grady, running a hand through his hair.
"Why is that a problem?" Grady asked. "Shouldn't we be celebrating? They're finally safe."
"Grady, they've found the Black Swan in a little over a week. A group the Council has been trying to locate for decades in a little over a week. Doesn't that make you suspicious?"
"The Black Swan was expecting them," Grady pointed out.
"True, but why make the children work so hard to find them? Why wouldn't they show up at Everglen and take the children immediately? Why make the children travel through the Forbidden Cities at all?"
"To test their commitment," Edaline said simply, taking a bite of her mallowmelt. "If they'd given up and headed home after a couple of rough days, the Black Swan would've known the children weren't ready. But because they braved the Forbidden Cities, alone, for a week, the Black Swan can be sure they won't run the second they hit a rough patch."
"That…actually makes sense," Alden said. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
"You may not like it, but the Black Swan liked it enough to try it."
Alden cringed at all this callous mention of the Black Swan. Knowing what he knew…
"Alden?" Grady gently shook Alden's shoulder. "You zoned out for a moment. What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Just some unsettling coincidences that have been coming up. But I'm sure there's no reason to worry. I'd better get home," Alden said quickly finishing off his mallowmelt. "Della will be wondering what's taking me so long."
"Are you sure you won't stay for dinner?" Edaline asked. "Della is invited too, of course. The gnomes are making dried umber leaves and—"
"I'm so sorry, to rush out," Alden interrupted, "but I really must go. Councillor Bronte wants to meet with me in ten minutes, and I still have to change."
"Here," Edaline said, conjuring up some cloth napkins and wrapping up some of the mallowmelt. "Please, take this to Della."
"Thank you so much, Edaline," Alden said, accepting the gift eagerly. Mallowmelt was his favorite, and Della would love the sweets too. "I'm sure Della will come by tomorrow to thank you. She's planning a trip to Atlantis soon, so start getting prepared now." He winked as he pulled out his pathfinder.
"Oooh!" Edaline exclaimed animatedly. "I really need to visit Atlantis. There's this new gown I've had my eye on for Sophie…oh. Goodbye Alden!"
Alden waved as he stepped into the beam of light. But he didn't head to Bronte's office. He headed straight to Mysterium to check a theory he'd had.
Alden hadn't been in Sophie's human house before she'd moved to Havenfield, but supposedly the little concrete storage building in front of him housed the entire thing.
'It certainly smells of the Forbidden Cities,' he thought as he stepped inside.
He headed up the stairs to Sophie's room and pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk. It was just where he'd expected.
